(1) In some Bible passages, “the will of God is another way of saying “the law of God.” For example, David parallels the phrases “thy law” with “thy will” in Ps 40:8. Similarly, Apostle Paul considers knowing God’s law to be synonymous with knowing God’s will (Rom 2:17-18). In other words, since in His law God instructs us in the way that He wants us to walk, the law may properly be called “the will of God.” “Law” essentially means “instruction” and includes the whole word of God.
(2) “The will of God” is also used to designate anything that God expressly desires; this may properly be called God’s perfect will.” For example, it is God’s revealed will that everyone be saved (1 Tim 2:4; 2 Pet 3:9) and that no saved believer should fall from grace (see John 6:40). This truth does not mean that everyone will be saved, but only that God desires the salvation of everyone.
(3) Finally, the “will of God” may refer to what God permits or allows to happen, even though He does not specifically desire it to happen; this may properly be called God’s “permissive will.” Indeed, much that happens in the world is contrary to God’s perfect will (e.g., sin, lust, violence, hatred and hardheartedness), yet He permits evil to continue for the time being. For example, the decision of many people to remain unsaved and thus lost for all eternity is permitted by God, for He does not force saving faith on those who refuse to accept His Son’s salvation. Similarly, God permits many troubles and evils that befall a person in life (1 Pet 3:17; 4:19), but they are not necessarily His desire or ultimate will for that person (see 1 John 5:19).
Responding to the Will of God. The Bible’s teaching about the will of God expresses more than mere doctrine; it intersects with our lives as believers on an everyday basis. Firstly, we must learn what God’s will is, i.e., His perfect will as revealed in Scripture (including His law). Because the days in which we live are evil, we must understand “what the will of the Lord is,” (Eph 5:17).
Secondly, once we know from the revealed will of God how He desires us to live as believers, we must commit ourselves to do His will. The Psalmist, for example, asks God to teach Him “to do thy will” (Ps 143:10). The parallel request that the Spirit “lead me into the land of uprightness,” indicates that He is essentially asking God for the ability to live a righteous life.
Similarly, Paul expects the Thessalonian Christians to follow God’s will by avoiding sexual immorality and by living a holy and honoruable way (1 Thess 4:3-4).
